In the wake of Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on Monday that the city's gun buyback program would be moved to the day after Christmas.
"We must redouble our efforts to get deadly weapons off the streets," Villaraigosa said during a press conference at the Los Angeles Police Department's downtown headquarters. "I feel it's critically important to provide Angelenos with concrete actions to make our city safer. As such, the program, normally scheduled for May, will be held on next Wednesday, Dec. 26."
Villaraigosa said the program has taken more than 8,000 guns off the streets in previous years. In exchange for handguns, participants will receive a $100 Ralph's gift card. Those who turn in an assault weapon will receive a $200 Ralph's gift card.
The mayor spoke about the importance of moving forward from the Newtown tragedy with public policies that will help to prevent a similar incident from occuring here.
"Together we mourn the unspeakable loss that was suffered, and together we look for ways to ensure that such a tragedy will never happen again," Villaraigoisa said.
In his address, Villaraigosa said the "national tragedy was giving way to a national conversation" about how improved mental health services and tighter gun control laws could prevent mass shootings like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Villaraigosa affirmed his support for legislation introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that would ban assault weapons.
"No single piece of legislation will solve all our problems, but an assault weapons ban is a powerful first step," he said. "Cities and states must join with the federal government to do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to keep our communities safe."
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From l915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians una ble to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated. China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 3000,000 Christians unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977 one million educated people unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Defenseless people rounded up ad exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million. You won’t see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and yes, gun control laws adversely affect only the law abiding citizens. Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late. The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are “citizens“, without them we are “subjects”. During WWWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were Armed! If you value your freedom, please spread this antigun-control message to all of your friends. SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN! SWITZERLAND’S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFFLE.
IT’S A NO BRAINER! DON’T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET."
The only people that will have guns are the upper mafia and the lower mafia.
There are many examples of Corruption. I will give you 1 example for arguments sake. We were given the freedom of information act. When Dr Shirley Moore and Richard Fine discovered and exposed that the L.A. Superior Court Judges were excepting money that was not authorized by LAW and Sturgeon vs. Los Angeles County 1 declared those payments to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL the Judges paid a lobbyist to pass SBX211 that granted themselves (Retro Active Immunity from Prosecution). When Government and Corporations are held to the same standards of the rule of LAW as the people are held. Then and only then could there be meaningful discussions about gun control. When Government stops taking money from the people and giving it to banks and corporations and prosecutes blatant acts of corruption then gun control could be an option.